Diving into Diets: Essential Oils in Feed Rations

In this episode of Bovine Science, Dr. Phillip Lancaster brings an article that looked into the use of essential oils in feed rations. The experts go over this paper and the styles of research groups used for the experiment.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377840124000841

Sponsored by ESTROTECT: Sync Program, Repro Tech, Calf Weaning Age

In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, sponsored by ESTROTECT Breeding Indicators, the team discussed how to use various reproduction technologies to achieve your herd’s genetic goals. Our guest, Dr. Jordan Thomas from the University of Missouri, shared their research on the 7&7 Sync Program and its benefits. Finally, the group talked about the best age to wean calves. 

3:20 Using Repro Tech to Reach Your Herd Goals 

11:40 7&7 Sync Program 
https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g2023

17:55 Best Age to Wean Calves 

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubci, Facebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget, if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Parasite Control, Bull BSE, Cover Crops

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the crew discuss the changing methods of parasite control. They continue the show by reviewing a paper discussed in a recent Bovine Science episode regarding back fat in bulls. Finally, the team discusses grazing cover crops and the effects on the soil. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Pasture Pulse: Lame Calves

black cows in green grass

For this edition Dr. Brad White is joined by Dr. Matt Miesner to discuss lame calves. When a calf gets stepped on, kicked or ran over it can be a costly loss for producers. They go over the different options producers have when a calf breaks its front or back leg. Thanks for listening.

Bull Creep Feeding, Anemia, New Diseases

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, we start by answering a listener question on creep feeding bulls. Next, the crew cover anemia; the causes, effects, and treatment. Finally they discuss investigating new diseases in your herd. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!

2:54 Creep Feeding Bulls
Article Mentioned: Review: The effect of nutrition on timing of pubertal onset and subsequent fertility in the bull

10:47 Anemia

16:39 Investigating New Diseases

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

After the Abstract: Tritrichomonas

Hereford bull in green grass.

This week on After the Abstract Todd Gunderson brings an article which analyzes the different methods for tritrichomonas testing in bulls. They break down the research and look at the findings as well as implications this could have on the beef industry.

Article Discussed: Differences in pain and trauma caused by common sampling devices used in the United States for Tritrichomonas foetus testing in bulls

Research Update, Shrinkage, South America

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the crew is joined by BCI student Rebecca Bigelow who talks about her research on liver abscesses. Next, the team discuss preventing calves from losing weight when they go to the sale. Finally, Brad brings an article which looks at the cattle industry in South America and how is compares to the U.S.. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!

2:36 Rebecca Bigelow: Research Update

10:08 Reducing Shrinkage

15:18 South American Cattle Industry

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Replacement Heifers, Marketing, Water

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team debates phenotype versus genotype when selecting replacement heifers. Next, Dustin leads the discussion on marketing with rising cattle prices. Finally the crew discuss water quality management.

2:25 Replacement Heifers

11:56 Marketing

1:13 Water Quality

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Preweaning Calves, Post Season Bull Management, Crew Preparation

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team talks about weaning calves and how to best prepare them for the stressful event. Next the experts discuss taking care of bulls after the breeding season. Finally, Dr. Brad White asks the crew their thoughts on preparing crew to work cattle.

3:49 Preweaning Calves

12:49 Post-Season Bull Management

18:11 Crew Preparation

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

After the Abstract: Bovine Veterinarian Survey

On this episode of After the Abstract, Dr. Todd Gunderson brings a research article which looks at income and job satisfaction among bovine practitioners. Dr. Brad White and Dr. Gunderson go through the article and discuss the issues this study addressed as well as the potential affects of this research.

Article discussed: Incomes and satisfaction among bovine focused veterinary practitioners in the United States and Canada

VRSP Students, Listeriosis, Co-grazing

cattle at pasture

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team discusses the Veterinary Research Scholars Program and the research those students have done with the BCI. Next, the crew explain listeriosis and how to identify it in your herd. Finally they have a debate over co-grazing, it’s benefits and potential risks.

2:49 Veterinary Research Summer Scholar Program

10:20 Listeriosis

15:08 Co-grazing

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Tox Talk: Shells in the Stomach

Black and white cows in green grass with trees behind them.

After a big thunderstorm some calves are found dead and some found sick. What caused it and why were the cows not affected? Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz will find out in this episode of Bovine Science.

The toxicology website and Bovine Sciences with BCI podcasts have been sponsored in part through a veterinary services grant that Dr. Scott Fritz, Dr. Steve Ensley and Dr. Bob Larson have received to share more toxicology information and examples for people to understand what to submit and how to submit. Another part of that grant has been working with people and producer in the field.

Research Update, Records, Consumer Demand

Black cow in green pasture in front of a tree.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team is joined by BCI graduate student Hayden Kunnary who gives an update on his research. Next the experts talk about record keeping during the summer. The crew round out the episode by debating the impact of consumer demand on the beef industry.

3:02 Hayden Kunnary Research Update

10:20 Summer Record Keeping

15:08 Consumer Demand Debate

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Intake Regulation, VTPRK, Forage Utilization

Black steer with white face in dirt pen.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! For this episode the crew is joined by K-State beef systems extension specialist Emma Briggs to discuss her research in Hays. Dr. Bob Larson also discusses the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas, their purpose and what they do.

3:31 Intake Regulation

11:36 Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas

16:18 Forage Utilization

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubci, Facebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Pasture Pulse: Calf Scours

In this episode of Bovine Science Dr. Matt Miesner is back to discuss calf scours. Dr Miesner brings some tips on rehydrating calves, the options available, and how long you should give the calf electrolytes. They also discuss resources that are available to assist in making decisions.

Resources discussed:
Hartnack, A. K., Niehaus, A. J., Rousseau, M., Pentecost, R. L., Miesner, M. D., & Anderson, D. E. (2015). Indications for and factors relating to outcome after rumenotomy or rumenostomy in cattle: 95 cases (1999–2011). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association247(6), 659-664. Retrieved Jun 9, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.247.6.659

Braun U. Ultrasonography of the gastrointestinal tract in cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2009 Nov;25(3):567-90,  https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-26375

Cockwill, K. R., McAllister, T. A., & Olson, M. E. (2005). Comparison of four rumenotomy techniques in cattle. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 46(12), 1111–1115. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1687032/

After the Abstract: Detecting BRD

young cow

This week on After the Abstract, Dr. Brian Lubbers and Dr. Brad White break down a cutting-edge study that explores how technology can help detect bovine respiratory disease (BRD) earlier in pre-weaned dairy calves. The study tested automated monitoring systems that track calves’ feeding patterns, movement, and social interactions. The goal? To see if behavioral changes could serve as early warning signs for BRD—before clinical signs appear.
Article discussed: Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves using sensor-based feeding, movement, and social behaviour

Drones, Tariffs, Rotating Ionophores

Holstein cattle at a feed bunk.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team is joined by special guest Dr. Haley Larson , assistant professor of animal health at K-State Olathe. She shares her research on drones using thermal imaging to improve cattle management. Dustin Pendell continues the series on tariffs this week covering the impacts on the animal health corridor. Finally Larson discusses her research on rotating ionophores and their impact on cattle performance.

3:50 Drones for Thermal Imaging

12:03 Pasture Turnout

17:18 Rotating Ionophores

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Diving into Diets: Sorghum Silage

In this episode of Bovine Science, we delve into the intricacies of sorghum silage processing and its impact on beef heifer nutrition. Our discussion centers around the recent study published in the Journal of Animal Science titled “Evaluation of kernel processing and processor type in whole-plant sorghum silage: effects on nutrient digestibility and animal performance in backgrounding beef heifers” (https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae369).

Tariffs, Clostridial Diseases, Beef Quality Assurance

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! For Dr. Brian Lubbers last episode as a host he shares information on clostridial diseases and the value of getting Beef Quality Assurance certified. Dr. Dustin Pendell also gives a breakdown on tariffs. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!

4:23 Tariffs

11:19 Clostridial Diseases

16:30 Beef Quality Assurance
bqa.org

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Pasture Pulse: Hardware Disease

Introducing the newest edition of Bovine Science, Pasture Pulse. For this edition Dr. Brad White is joined by Dr. Matt Miesner to discuss cattle health cases. On this episode a cow appears sick shortly after having the calf, but the cause is not easy to identify. Thanks for listening.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Hardware Disease

Indications for and factors relating to outcome after rumenotomy or rumenostomy in cattle: 95 cases (1999–2011)

Grazing Strategies, Listener Question: Rash, Research Update

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team discusses pros and cons of rotational grazing. The experts then take a listener question about a mysterious rash on their herd. Finally Dr. Conrad Schelkof gives a research update. Thanks for tuning in!

3:18 Continuous vs. Rotational Grazing

12:10 Listener Question: Rash or Herpes?

18:45 Conrad Schelkopf Research Update

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Tox Talk: Poisoned Heifer

When this producer goes to move his heifers he finds one dead and others ill. With no obvious clues, what caused the heifer to die and could this happen to the others? Find out on this episode of Tox Talk a Bovine Science Podcast with Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz? Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

The toxicology website and Bovine Sciences with BCI podcasts have been sponsored in part through a veterinary services grant that Dr. Scott Fritz, Dr. Steve Ensley and Dr. Bob Larson have received to share more toxicology information and examples for people to understand what to submit and how to submit. Another part of that grant has been working with people and producer in the field.

Sustainability, Health Metrics, Ranells Ranch

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team is joined by special guest Dr. Logan Thompson, KSU Sustainable Livestock Extension Specialist, to discus sustainability in the beef industry. The experts will also discuss what health metrics producers should be keeping track of for their herd. Dr. Thompson finishes the episode by talking about some of the current research he is working on.

3:56 State of Sustainability

11:19 Health Metrics

17:26 Ranells Ranch Research

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Drought, Pour-on, Innovation

Cattle at pasture

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the experts begin by discussing Dr. Lancaster’s new research on drought decisions. Next they answer a listener question about applying pour-on to cows. Finally they discuss new innovations and speculate about the future of the beef industry.

2:46 Drought Decisions

11:29 Listener Question: Pour-on

16:29 Innovations in the Beef Industry

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!

Spring Cleaning

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this episode we are switching things up by answering a myriad of listener questions to get producers ready for the coming season. The experts will discuss prolapses, mastitis, grass tetany, bulls and more. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!

2:18 Prolapses

7:20 Mastitis

11:53 Magnesium

17:32 Bull Management

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!